The Great Northeast Cheese Fest is Happening This Weekend in New York

Cheese lovers of the world may have the caves of France and trips to the motherland of Parmigiano Reggiano on their travel bucket lists, but they should add one more place to their dream agenda—Queens, New York.

This weekend, the Great Northeast Cheese Fest takes over Flushing Town Hall and fans of fromage, queso, formaggio, and cheddar will want to hop on the 7 train.

The event, which is put on by NY Epicurean Events, will have over 30 artisans on hand to share their cheesy wares, including offerings from Vulto Creamery, goat cheese stars Maiden’s Creamery, Seattle import Beecher's Handmade Cheese, Bovina Valley Farm Creamery, and choices from the Crown Finish Cheese Caves based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

While cheese is delicious in its own right, the festival will have plenty of chefs on hand to transform the humble curds into masterpieces. Will Horowitz, who has elevated the art of pastrami-making at Harry & Ida’s, Queens’ food star Alfonso Zhicay, and Michelin-starred chefs Hugue Dufour, who rose to fame at M. Wells and M. Wells Steakhouse, and Danny Brown will all be working their magic. No feast is complete without dessert, so Judy Lai of Silk Cakes and Rudolf Merlin of Crème will merge the cheese course with some sweet treats. (No judgment if you have both.)

Since cheese is even better when paired with beer and wine, New York state breweries, vineyards, cider makers, and wineries will match the offerings with nutty brown ales, locally made reds and whites, and ciders.

General Admission runs $60, which includes plenty of cheese samples, tastes of the chef's bites, and accompanying drinks. Early access VIP tickets are also available for $150. You can buy tickets here.